SafePlants

Carex bonanzensis - Yukon Sedge

Carex bonanzensis, commonly known as Yukon sedge, is a perennial graminoid belonging to the genus Carex.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Carex bonanzensis Britton
• Common Name: Yukon sedge
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Family: Cyperaceae (Sedge family)
• Genus: Carex L.
• Synonyms: Carex cajanderi
• Other Names: laches, rouches, rouchettes (potentially related but context is unclear)

Distribution and Habitat

• Found in North America, specifically in southwest Yukon and central Alaska.
• Grows in wetland environments, including sedge marshes, bogs, and sedge-tussock bogs.
• Baikal sedge, closely related or potentially the same, thrives in specific habitats such as the Carcross Dunes in the Yukon.
• Also found in sedge meadows and tundra regions.

Ecological Role

• Plays a role in Alaska's forest and tundra food webs.
• The establishment of invasive plant species in Yukon sand habitats is considered a potential threat to Baikal Sedge populations.
• Serves as habitat and food source for various organisms, including rodents and furbearers in certain wetland ecosystems.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• A perennial graminoid, meaning it lives for more than two years.
• Has long slender leaves, characteristic of sedges and rushes.
• Roots can be long, as is the case for Baikal sedge, enabling it to thrive in dune environments.
• Forms floating mats in some aquatic environments, eventually transitioning to shore-fast wet sedge beaches.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Interacts with the rare dune tachinid fly in desert environments.
• Provides habitat for dragonflies in small lakes, ponds, and sedge marshes.

Further Information

• Discover Life provides information about the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Carex bonanzensis.
• The Plant List, ToL (Tree of Life Web Project), and WikiSpecies may contain additional information.
• TERMIUM, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank, could offer linguistic insights.
• COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada) reports on Yukon's Baikal sedge are available.